Wellbutrin is a brand name for an antidepressant medication known as Bupropion. The way that this anti-depressant medication works is by altering chemicals in the brain in order to reduce the feelings of depression. There are several different types of Wellbutrin that can be taken, such as Wellbutrin SR which is Bupropion SR, a pill that you take twice daily, as well as Wellbutrin XL, or Bupropion XL, which is a pill that you will take once daily.

There are other similar products as well but they are not marketed under the same Wellbutrin name despite having the same generic name and the same active and inactive ingredients.

Wellbutrin is considered to be a non-tricyclic antidepressant, and so it differs from most other types of commonly prescribed antidepressants including SSRIs. The primary reason for this is because its pharmacological action is achieved through Norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibition. So while it is an anti-depressant medication like many other types of anti-depressant medications, there are specific characteristics of Wellbutrin that make it distinct to other anti-depressant medications, which is why it is commonly prescribed, especially for patients who have not had good luck with other prescription anti-depressant products.

Why is Wellbutrin Prescribed?

Wellbutrin is most commonly used in order in treating depressive disorders including Major Depressive Disorder as well as Seasonal Affective Disorder. It can also be used in some circumstances to help individuals that want to quit smoking because it can reduce the cravings and the effects of withdrawal that would normally make quitting difficult.

Wellbutrin is a mood stabilizing drug, and so it is commonly prescribed for the purpose of treating Bipolar disorder and similar disorders where mood swings are common, or where both up moods and down moods are common. It is important that you take Wellbutrin in exactly the manner that was recommended by your physician in order to benefit from its effects without causing harm or the potential for addiction.

List of Medical Uses for Wellbutrin

Depression

Smoking Cessation

Anxiety

Obesity

Sexual Dysfunction

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Statistics Relating to Wellbutrin

As a mood stabilizing drug, Wellbutrin is often abused by teenagers and college students. According to a national study, as many as 6.4 percent of students may have used the drug off script within a period of 12 months, and it is common for students to use this medication for non-medical purposes.

How is Wellbutrin Abused?

As an antidepressant or mood stabilizing medication, Wellbutrin does not have any value on the street and is not used as a club drug or party drug. The primary ways that people abuse this medication is by taking it in a manner that is contraindicated by the physician or the prescription itself. For example, a person abusing Wellbutrin may use it more frequently than prescribed, they may take it in dosages that are higher than what is prescribed or they may take it for a period of time longer than one is recommended, and all of these actions can be perceived as abuse of the medication.

Wellbutrin is considered to be a reuptake inhibitor for dopamine and nor epinephrine, also known as an NDRI. The way that it works is by affecting very specific chemicals in your brain, which are known as dopamine and nor epinephrine. These two chemicals are some of the chemicals responsible for carrying messages from nerve cell to nerve cell. By helping to block the reuptake of these chemicals, more will remain in the space between the nerve cells in the brain, and this is going to give them a much improved chance of activating receptors in the nerve cells in order to improve the mood.

Wellbutrin Abuse Treatment Options

There are two types of treatment that are necessary in overcoming an addiction or physical dependency to Wellbutrin, and both are best carried out through a licensed drug treatment center that is staffed and equipped to handle this type of depression. The first is designed to treat the physical dependency and involves weaning the patient off of the medication slowly to prevent any feelings of withdrawal or dependency.

The second form of rehabilitation is entirely psychological, designed to train the behavior and create healthy new habits where relying on the medication is no longer necessary. Both parts come together to create a whole rehabilitation plan to overcome the Wellbutrin addiction once and for all.

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